More Diego Pictures...no words.

More Diego

So, we are in San Diego for a whopping 8 days. Compliments of Ma and Poppy. They rented a beach house about 150 yds from the water. I can't describe how cool this whole thing is other than to say it is the time of my life. My boys are playing with their cousins non-stop. No one is fighting. The weather is perfect. No one has gotten hurt so far. We are seeing some cool and unusual stuff with lots more to see in the coming week.

A list of cool shiz we have seen, stuff that has happened, etc..

1. The boys got their first taste of the ocean and have fallen in love with it.
1a. The boys got their first mild sunburn...didn't fall in love with that, but still want to go back to the beach.
2. We went to the boardwalk down the street and I got to play Super Uncle and treat them all to funnel cakes.
3. We watched fireworks two nights in a row from our balcony and the beach.
4. Today, we spent the our whole day at Seaside Village and taking a tour of the USS Midway.
4a. The boys got to pretend they were pilots on no less than 6 different cockpits.
5. We got the boys giant Ben & Jerry's waffle cones. So much they couldn't finish. Finally.
6. Tonight after supper, the boys and I watched some TV, nursed our sunburns, sipped some hot chocolate and laughed our butts off.
7. I have had some really cool and insightful conversations with my boys and my wife. Stuff I needed to hear and they needed to say has come out and it is all awesomeness.

Again, enjoy the pictures. I am off to cuddle and maybe sleep a few hours before it all kicks off again in the morning.

Freedom Week

We are in San Diego. It is friggin awesome. I am tired. Enjoy the pictures. Words tomorrow.

Poppy

Thank you for having brunch with us for Father's Day, Poppy. You are the best Dad and Grandpa anyone could ever ask for. We love you!

Father's Day 2009

I love that there is an entire day dedicated to dads, especially because I was blessed with the most incredible dad for myself and for my sons. Each day I witness the kind-hearted, responsible, incredibly smart, hilarious, and loving boys my sons have become. In each of them I see their Daddy. With his example, they will grow up to be men just like him and this world will be a better place because of it. My boys have a daddy who is their playmate, their teacher, their guide, their friend, and most importantly...their rock and stability. He shows them how to treat other people with compassion and respect, and how to stand up for themselves. He teaches them to be knowledgeable and strong, but still know how to stay carefree and have fun. He is involved in every aspect of their lives, and for that I am grateful. Nothing in this world matters more to my wonderful husband than being the daddy to our boys, and it shows in everything he does. He makes our family happy. He makes our family strong. He makes our family complete.

We had a fun-filled day of brunch with Poppy and Ma, rocking out to Guitar Hero, and a great dinner with lots and lots of family. Daddy said it was a perfect day from beginning to end...how fitting for our perfect Daddy! We love you, Mauri. Thank you for being YOU!!

The loves of my life

After a good game of Hide-n-Seek, Poppy entertained
the boys with a little strummin' on the guitar.

Meanwhile...Daddy was in the other room, rockin' out
with his new Guitar Hero game.

Poppy and his boys

While we were out to dinner with 17 people, the camera didn't
come out much, but I couldn't resist beautiful little Lily!

Sunset Canyon Talent Show 2009

On May 20th, our school held our annual talent show. Jake's class opened the show with the "Mac Chicken Dance." Jake did an awesome job and made us all proud. That boy's got rhythm!

Kindergarten Core Knowledge Night

J & B before the show

Jake and his buddy Jordyn

Announcing the Plant Song

Jake & Mommy

Jake with his Grandmas

Jake and his Poppy

Jake and Daddy

The happy family

The BEST Kindergarten teacher in the world...
We love Mrs. W.!

The end of the school year was a busy one. On May 19, Jake's class held their Core Knowledge performance for friends and families. It was a celebration for all four classes where they sang songs showing off some of the things they had learned this year. Thanks to the BEST Kindergarten teacher in the world, Jake's class did an amazing job. It was so fun to see Jake up on stage with his friends. Great job Buddy! Here are a few highlights from the show..

Mother's Day with Ma

We had our Mother's Day celebration with Grandma a week late. Being the ever-so-thoughtful mom that she is, she gives all of us moms our own day, and we celebrate with her on another day. The whole family went to Peter Piper Pizza at Grandma's request. She loves to watch the kids play and everyone relax and have a good time...just more evidence that she is the BEST. Thank you for spending so much time with us and always making everything fun. We love you Mom/Grandma!

Goodbye Preschool...

We attended our very last Preschool pizza party on Thursday. We've been hanging around that classroom for three years. It seems really weird to be saying goodbye. Their teachers have helped them become such great little dudes. They can read, the can sign, they have made great friends, and so much more all thanks to that program. I can't thank Mrs. Dexter, Mrs. Smithwick, Mrs. Hassel, Mrs. Miaso, Mrs. Benson, and Mrs. Hommel enough. Yeah, there are that many teachers in there. Each one of them has helped our kids become who they are and who they are, is friggin AWESOME!

Mother of my Sons

That woman in the picture above, the mother of my sons...she is the best. She deserves a two thousand word essay on the how and why, but tonight I don't have it in me. Doesn't matter. If you have met my dudes you know from whence they came. I am such a small part of who they are. All the goodness, sweetness, and kindest parts of them they get from their mother. Their ease at making new friends, the way they give affection to loved ones, the very smiles on their faces...hers.

I am thankful every day for my boys and what new parts of me they have opened up. Every gift they have brought to my life is directly connected to their Mom, and I cannot thank her enough for that. From the first time I met her I knew she would be the Mother of my children, but I could not have possibly known what that would mean for me. Hands down, best decision I have ever made is marrying her.

In summation, score for me. I win at life.

I love you Cindy. Thank you for being the Mother of my Sons.

Just an observation

The last few days I have been hanging around the boys classrooms. I make it a point to go up to school at least two days a week. Usually I just help out here and there hang out with the boys and Cindy before I have to go to work. It keeps me connected to what they are doing and their life outside of our house. Plus it's fun.

This last few days, not so much fun. The boys were fine. It was the things I noticed that made it crappy. Turns out there are a lot more shit head parents in this world than I thought. The kicker is they are all right around my age now. Which leads me to believe that my generation is chock full of failures as parents. I'm not a perfect parent by any means. I screw up probably on a daily basis. The difference between me and them is, I correct my mistakes instead of passively letting them happen over and over again. Here are a few examples of shit parenting I saw just this week.

- A five year old boy who weighs about 15lbs. He will be in Kindergarten next year. Malnourished beyond belief.

- A four year old who constantly smells like an ashtray. I mean, his clothes, hair, backpack, everything. There must be constant smoke blown at this little dude.

- A four year old who is physically abusive to other kids. Not like, he might push or slap...I mean he will punch with intent to hurt, drag kids around by the collar of their shirt, kick them in the face, throw them down...you name it. Other little kids are afraid to be around him. Four years old.

- A six year old so used to being in trouble that a part of his daily routine is to act out to the point that his Mom will have to come pick him up. When she picks him up, there is no consequence. She barely says a word to him.

- A five year old who was a sweet innocent person last year, has turned mean and hateful after her parent's divorce earlier this year. Not only did her parents divorce, they split her apart from her twin sister just when she needs her the most.

These are just a few and there are many more. There are certainly kids in Cindy's own class I could talk about, but I don't want to get her in trouble. What the hell is going on? Who are we? This kind of stuff is becoming part of the normal accepted behavior for kids and adults. The thing is, what are we to do? Can I call CPS? I could, but they are powerless to do anything unless I prove a kid is being abused. Should I get in a parents face? Maybe. Then I might cause repercussions for my wife. Having your hands tied is not a place I like to be.

Kids are an afterthought for a lot of people. Here is the thing folks. When you become a parent...it stops being about YOU. It is about THEM. You had your shot to live it up and party like a rockstar. That shit is over. Grow up. These little people are here to replace us. Pretty soon we are going to look around and be scared of what we created.

WOLVERINE!

This post is just to let the boys know when and where they went to see this movie. We have been waiting for this movie for a year or more and it did not disappoint. I got the chance to take them by myself tonight and it was one of the great memories I will take with me to wherever I am headed after this. Jake on my left. Brady on my right. Seeing them smile, their eyes light up, and answering all their whispered questions. They were totally engaged in the movie and I was all wrapped up in the experience. We ate a super late supper at Panda Express and took and even more super late bubble bath when we got home. This is going on the list of best nights ever. Thank you boys. I love you stronger than Wolverine.